Azalea plant named `Parasol`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named `Parasol`, characterized by its large and vigorous plants that are freely branching; shiny, dark green, and broad leaves; very freely flowering; large, showy, ruffled, single flowers; long-lasting light pink to white and hot pink bi-colored flowers that resist fading; excellent postproduction longevity with plants maintaining good flower substance for about four weeks in an interior environment; and good resistance to Cylindrocladium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea,botanically known as Rhododendron hybrida, an evergreengreenhouse-forcing type, and hereinafter referred to by the name`Parasol`.

The new Azalea is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is tocreate new Azalea varieties having uniform plant habit and uniformflowering, numerous flowers, good foliage retention during the coolingand forcing periods, and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Azalea originated from a cross made by the inventor in Alva,Fla., of the commercial cultivar Rhododendron hybrida `Fascination` (notpatented) as the female, or seed, parent with the commercial cultivarRhododendron hybrida `Prize` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,795) asthe male, or pollen, parent.

Compared to plants of the red-edged female parent, `Fascination`, plantsof the new Azalea have a more uniform plant habit and less pink in thecenter of the flower.

In addition to flower color and form, plants of the new Azalea havelarger flowers and flower slower and not as uniformly as plants of thedark rose double hose-in-hose-flowered `Prize`.

Compared to plants of the new Azalea's sibling cultivar, `Tapestry`,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. application Ser. No. 09/082,053, flowers ofplants of the new Azalea are light pink to white and hot pink bi-coloredwhereas flowers of plants of the cultivar `Tapestry` are light pink towhite and red bi-colored. In addition, plants of the new Azalea are morefloriferous, but have smaller flowers than plants of the cultivar`Tapestry`.

The new Azalea was discovered and selected by the inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Alva, Fla., on May 24, 1994. The selection of this plantwas based on its desirable flower color, profuse and uniform flowering,uniform plant habit, excellent foliage retention, resistance toCylindrocladium and good postproduction longevity.

Asexual reproduction of the new Azalea by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Alv, Fla., has shown that the unique featuresof this new Azalea are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

The new Azalea has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength, light intensity, nutritionand water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe in the unique characteristics of `Parasol`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Parasol` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large and vigorous plants that are freely branching.

2. Shiny, dark green, and broad leaves.

3. Very freely flowering.

4. Large, showy, ruffled, single flowers.

5. Long-lasting light pink to white and hot pink bi-colored flowers thatresist fading.

6. Excellent postproduction longevity with plants maintaining goodflower substance for about four weeks in an interior environment.

7. Good resistance to Cylindrocladium.

Plants of the new Azalea can be compared to plants of the red-edgedflowered cultivar `Leopold Astrid` (not patented). However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newAzalea differ from plants of the cultivar `Leopold Astrid` in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Azalea are more vigorous, upright and stronger thanplants of the cultivar `Leopold Astrid`.

2. Flowers of plants of the new Azalea are single whereas flowers ofplants of the cultivar `Leopold Astrid` are double in form.

3. Plants of the new Azalea are more resistant to Cylindrocladium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Azalea, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of `Parasol`.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of `Parasol`. Flower and foliage colors in the photographs mayappear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned and following observations, measurements, values, andcomparisons describe plants grown in Alva, Fla., in 12.5-cm containerswith day temperatures ranging from 16 to 35° C. and night temperaturesranging from 10 to 24° C. Plants were grown under 50 percentpolypropylene shade cloth reducing ambient light levels to about 4,000to 5,000 footcandles. After flower bud development, plants were cooledat 3 to 5° C. for six weeks to break flower bud dormancy. Plants weresubsequently forced into flower under commercial conditions in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification:

Botanical.--Rhododenron hybrida `Parasol`.

Commercial.--Evergreen greenhouse-forcing type Azalea.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Rhododendron hybrida `Prize`, U.S. Plant Pat.No.3,795.

Female or seed parent.--Rhododendron hybrida `Fascination`, notpatented.

Propagation:

Type.--By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: About 35 days at temperatures of 24° C.Winter: About 42 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Time to develop roots.--Summer: About 63 days at temperatures of 24° C.Winter: About 77 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Rooting habit.--Vigorous and finely-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form and growth habit.--Perennial, evergreen, large, outwardlyspreading, inverted triangle. Vigorous. Numerous flowers per plant.

Branching habit.--Freely branching usually about four lateral branchesdevelop after removal of terminal apex.

Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.--About 29 cm.

Plant diameter, area of spead.--About 52 cm.

Lateral branch description.--Length: About 23 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.Color: Immature: 144B. Mature: 164A/166A. Texture: Pubescent.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.--Alternate, single.

Length.--About 4.5 cm.

Width.--About 2.3 cm.

Shape.--Elliptic.

Apex.--Mucronate.

Base.--Attenuate/cuneate.

Margin.--Entire.

Texture.--Leathery, pubescent on both surfaces.

Color.--Young foliage, upper surface: Darker than 147A. Young foliage,lower surface: Close to 147B. Mature foliage, upper surface: Darker than147A. Mature foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B.

Petiole.--Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: 144A/144B.

Flower description:

Natural flowering season.--Spring after sufficient cool period.

Time to flower (Forcing period).--After about four to six weeks ofcooling at 4 to 9° C. plants will typically require an additional threeto five weeks to develop about 12 colored flower buds.

Flower arrangement.--Flowers arranged singly at terminals with usuallyfive to ten flowers per apex. Flowers face upward and outward. Veryfreely flowering.

Flower appearance.--Large showy star-shaped single flowers. White andhot pink bi-colored petals. Flowers persistent.

Flower diameter.--About 9.5 cm.

Postproduction longevity.--Under interior conditions, plants maintaingood flower substance for about four weeks.

Flower bud (just starting to show petal color).--Rate of opening: Aboutthree days depending on temperatures. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter:About 7.5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 144A.

Petals.--Appearance: Satiny. Texture: Smooth. Arrangement: Large singleflowers. Corolla consists of five to seven fused petals. Sepalsoccasionally fused and petaloid. Shape: Spatulate with rounded apex.Margin: Entire with undulating edge which gives a ruffled appearance.Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm. Color: Fully opened, uppersurface: Iridescent; center, 62B/62C/62D to white; margin, 57A/61B.Fully opened, lower surface: Iridescent; center, 62C/62D to white;margin, 57B/61C. Width of hot pink margin: About 1.7 cm. Throat: Faint,close to 63D speckles on upper petals.

Sepals.--Arrangement: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped calyx,occasionally petaloid. Texture: Slightly pubescent on lower surface andat margin. Shape: Variable, usually transitional structures with roundedor incised apices. Margin: Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Ifpetaloid, same as petals with variable green areas, 144A.

Peduncles.--Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Straight.Strength: Flexible, strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B, somereddish tones.

Reproductive organs.--Androeium: Stamen number: Usually about seven.Stamen length: About 4.2 cm. Stamen color: White. Anther shape: Oblong.Anther size: About 3 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther color: Golden brown. Amount ofpollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Very light green to creamy white.Gynoecium: Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 59B. Stylelength: About 4 cm. Style color: 57A. Ovary color: 144A, heavilywhiskered.

Disease resistance: Good resistance to Cylindrocladium has beenobserved.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Azalea plant named `Parasol`, asillustrated and described.